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In a key moment for Indo-Pacific diplomacy, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles held wide-ranging discussions in New Delhi today, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening strategic and defence cooperation.
The meeting comes on the fifth anniversary of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and follows a series of regional security developments, including the recent Operation Sindoor and a terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir. Against this backdrop, the high-level dialogue signalled renewed alignment between the two Indo-Pacific democracies.
United Front Against Terrorism
The talks were held shortly after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed multiple lives. Defence Minister Singh strongly condemned the incident and thanked Australia for its solidarity with India.
“We have taken necessary steps in response to the barbaric incident in Kashmir. I thank Australia for standing unequivocally with India on this issue,” Singh said. “It is heartening to see how far our bilateral defence ties have progressed. This dialogue lays the foundation for deeper engagement going forward.”
Expressing condolences, Marles said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the Pahalgam attack. Australia stands with India and all nations in the fight against terrorism. We also welcome India’s restraint following the incident, which reflects strong and mature leadership.”
He added, “We feel we’ve never had a more strategically aligned relationship with India than we do today.”
Expanding Strategic and Defence Collaboration
The ministers reviewed progress since the last India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and charted the next phase of cooperation. Key areas of focus included:
- Maritime Security: Both sides emphasized safeguarding critical sea lanes and maintaining stability across the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
- Cyber and Emerging Tech: Cooperation on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies was identified as a key priority.
- Defence Industry and R&D: The leaders welcomed the launch of the Australia-India Joint Research Project and committed to expanding industry-to-industry collaboration.
- Hydrography: Enhanced cooperation in naval mapping, data sharing, and maritime domain awareness was discussed.
- Counter-Terrorism: Both nations reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and enhancing joint capacity building.
Symbolic and Cultural Diplomacy
In a solemn tribute, Marles laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, honouring India’s fallen soldiers—a gesture the Ministry of Defence described as a reflection of “shared sacrifice and growing mutual respect.”
Earlier in the day, Marles also connected with Delhi’s local culture, starting his visit with a run in Nehru Park followed by chai at a neighbourhood market. “First port of call in India: a run and a chai from the local market!” he posted on X (formerly Twitter), striking a warm tone ahead of formal engagements.
Indo-Pacific Outlook
The ministers jointly reaffirmed their shared vision for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. They agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation across defence, technology, and maritime domains to ensure regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
As India and Australia recalibrate their strategic priorities amid an increasingly complex security environment, today’s engagement served to solidify one of the region’s most important defence partnerships.
Team BharatShakti
